Continuous method of treating cyanid solutions.



CONTINUOUS METHOD OF TREATING CYANIO SOLUTIONS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-24. 19M.

Patented Oct. 29, 1918.

II'VVENTOH WITNESSES:

, LAMARTINE C. TRENT, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA CONTINUOUS METHOD OF TREATING CYANID SOLUTIONS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Blot, 2Q, 1918,

Application filed August 24:, 1914. Serial No. 858,409.

To aZZ wh0m it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAMARTINE C. TRENT, a c1t1zen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles the recovery of values therefrom, more par- 1 tlcularly ore and other mineral pulps 1n the,

treatment of which chemical solutions, water only or othersolvents are used, and has been designed with especial reference to the extraction of gold and silver from their ores with cyanid solutions. It has for its object to treat crushed or pulverized materialdelivered to it as slime or pulp from any. appropriate source, and to provide for the different stages of extraction and separation of values, to finally include the delivery of valuable and recovered solutions for further treatment and the discharge of tailings pulp, a further object being to dispense with the necessity of the employment of filters and by so doing eliminating the expense incidental thereto while at the same time producing a simpler, more efiicient and less enpensive method of treatment than the ones in common use at the resent time.

The invention consists in subjecting the slimes as received to a settling and thickening action in order to separate excess liquid contained therein or to settling and the replacement of the carrier liquid with such other liquid as the ase may require, removing the thickened material and subjecting it to agitation and circulation for dissolving values contained therein, subsequently treating the pulp by introducing a barren solution or a diflerent liquid causing agitation in said material under treatment, the pun posebeing to add an active solvent forv dis- SOlVlIlg residual Values and also to displace and replace pregnant solution therewith and following this with a simllar treatment of replacement of solution b means of ,water for the recovery of the so vent and its 09ntained values, and for theseparation of a tailings pulp which is practically freed from soluble values. K

The process may thus be said to comprise for carryin three purposes and four steps as described 1n the foregoing, each of which steps may be subdivided into two or more simllar steps, said purposes beingfirst, thickening of the slimes and the removal of a part of the liquid therefrom, or, as the case may require, the said thickening accompanied by replacement of the carrierliquid with solution for" dissolving the metallic values, second, dissolving the metallic values from the material under treatment, and, third, separating thp valuable solutions from the solids by replacement; these mentioned purposes being carried'out in the process "of a single operation. during the continuous flow of material to be treate A further advantage gained by the use of the method described herein is that when used for treating cyanid slimes the solutions carryin the dlssolved metallic values are remove as soon as possible after the values are dissolved providing a more efficient and economical recovery than is otherwise pos sible.

I am aware that according to conditions, modifications within the method of treatment as described herein, may bemade, and I do not 'wish to be understood as confining myself to the details of the apparatus, or to any certain number of receptacles arranged in sequence for the difi'erent purposes.

Any suitable apparatus may be employed for carrying out the method, butpreference is given to the use of the apparatus disclosed in the accompanying drawings,wherein is shown in vertical section an apparatus out the improved method of separating t e values from the slimes.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a tank or vessel for the initial treatment of the pulverized material which is fed to the,

vessel as a slime in any suitable manner as by a launder 2, the said initial treatment being for settling and thickenin the received slimes and for replacin liqui thereof with a solvent when require the dimensions of the vessel being dependent on the tonnage capacity desired for the apparatus. The receivin vessel 1 is provided adjacent its up'- pere ge with an overflow launder 3 for re ceiving separated clarified liquid, which is carrie ofi through any suitableoutlet 4, for disposal in any desired manner, said liquid when separated from slimes produced in the pulverization of ores in the presence of a solvent, frequently carrying high metallic values in solution.

Suspended at an adjustable height within the vessel 1 is a rotatable device consisting of a tubular shaft 5 which is closed at its lower end, and of hollow arms 6, which are connected to the shaft 5 by the hollow head 7, said arms 6 being each provided with one or more discharge openings 8 and a series of blades 9, a supply pipe 10 communicating with the upper end of the hollow shaft 5 for introducing a replacing liquid therein under pressure, the object of the device being to thicken the slimes, to introduce and distribute a liquid for replacing purposes and to produce the conditions desired for the replacement of the liquid received in the slimes for treatment the discharge openings of the arms 6 and the setting of the blades 9 thereof being arranged in such a manner as to cause the agitation required for the mentioned purposes. tion in any suitable manner, rotation being imparted to the shaft by the gear wheel 11 and worm and pulley 12.

The material is withdrawn from the vessel 1 through the perforated outlet pipe 13, which is connected through a pipe 14, with the lift pump 15, said pump delivering the withdrawn material through the pipe con nection 15 into the agitating vessel 16.

, Within the vessel 16 adjacent the bottom thereof, is mounted for rotation an agitator comprising a hollow head 17, and hollow arms 18, each of which arms is provided with discharge nozzles 19, there being introduced into the head 17 a pipe 20, which connects with a rotary pump 21. The material within the vessel 16 is kept in constant'agitation and circulation by means of the pump 21, material being withdrawn from the said vessel at its upper-portion into the pump 21 by means of the connection 22, or from a point intermediate the ends of the vessel by means of the connection 23 through the suction pipe 2 1, the flow through the said pipe connections 22 and 22-3 being controlled by the valves 26 and 27 respectively. The material withdrawn from the vessel 16 into the suction pump 21 is returned to the said vessel 16 by means of the rotary agitator situated therein, the flow through pipe leading to the agitator being regulated with a valve 28. i

The material treated in the vessel 16 overflows therefrom into the launder 29, which conveys the, said material to the replacing vessel 30, which is provided adjacent its bottom with a rotary agitator having a 1101- low head 31 suitably mounted for rotation and tubular arms 32 provided with discharge nozzles 33. Outside of the vessel. is located a suction pump 34;, which withdraws material from within the said vessel ll.) through the interiorly disposed perfo- The shaft 5 is mounted for rota- 1,2ee,3es

rated suctionpipe 35.and pipe connections 36 and returns the said material into the vessel through the arms 32 of the agitator by means of the pipe 37, which said pipe delivers the material into the head 31 of the agitator. By this withdrawal and return of the material within the vessel 30,

the said material is n'iaintained in circulation and, agitation while a replacing solvent is being added thereto through the valve controlled pipe 38 connected with the suction of the pump 31, for replacing pregnant solution and for dissolving residual values contained in the solids of the material under treatn'ient, preferably but not necessarily with an upward flow of the replacing liquid within the vessel 30. The replaced and rising liquids separated within the vessel 30 are received in a discharge launder, 39 and flow therefrom through an outlet 10 to a suitable place of deposit for after treatment. Situated near the bottom of the vessel 30 is a perforated suction ring ell, connected with a discharge pipe 42 and thence with the lift pump 34 for withdrawing the treated material from the vessel 30 and delivering it to the replacing vessel 14 through the pipe 44, the quantity of material withdrawn for circulation and discharge being controlled by the valves a and 7) in pipes 36 and +2, the pipe 37 also being provided with a valve 0. 1n the vessel H, the material withdrawn from the vessel 30 mixes with the replacing liquid and receives another treatment by replacement in which water is usedas the replacing liquid to recover solution contain ing dissolvedchemical and metallic values from the said material, the quantity of water introduced for replacing purposes being approximately the quantity which is discharged in the tailings pulp with such additional quantity as may be required in continuous operation to make up for losses of water in discarded solutions, evaporation and in. other manner, this being the stage of treatment for intrmluction of the make-up water.

Agitation is produced in the vessel 4 1 in the same manner as described for vessel 30. by withdrawing material from near the bot tom of the vessel through the perforated suction pipe. 45 and the pipe connections 46 into the suction pump 17, the replacing water being introduced through the valve controlled pipe +18, and delivering the discharge of the pump by means of the pipe 49 to an agitator situated within the vessel 44, the material thus delivered by the pump passing through the agitator comprising the head 50 and the radial arms 51 provided with discharge nozzles 52 as in the preceding vessel 30. The liquid overflowing from the vessel 44. is discharged into a launder 52, passing therefrom through an outlet 53 to a place of deposit and the same is available for use in any desired manner, and the tailings may be discharged from the vessel as desired.

By the described method, the separation of valuable solutions takes place in continuous overflows and the material under treatment subjected to agitation for dissolving values under conditions for continuous withdrawal of treated pulp, and the replacement of liquids comprising replacement with an ascending flow of replacing liquid and replacement -without distinctive ascending flow of replacing liquid, the replacements being conducted by the introduction of replacing liquid within the material treated with such agitation as may be required, avoiding the use of structural barriers in the pulp within the vessels and the use of filters for the pulp and treatment by successive dilutions and decantati-ons, and excessive dilution of solutions, effecting thereby an economical and practical method of continuous replacement and of slime treatment. Delivery of the material for treatment by the method may be made at the first step described or at any intermediate step involving two or more steps of the described suitable manner for imparting such agitation as may be required, and the use of pumps and the withdrawal of pulp for outside circulation may be dispensed with, the replacing liquids may be introduced in any a desired. manner, the delivery of material to diiierent steps of treatment may be effected as desired, and any suitable means may be employed for effecting the other described purposes, nor is'the method limited to the details of operation as described for the different steps. Two successive treatments of replacement such as the third and fourth steps of the method as described herein may be conducted inone vessel, by introducing the two different replacing liquids at different levels within the said vvessel, agitation being imparted as required.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new anddesired to protect by Letters Patent is 1. The continuous method of treatin slimes, containing values to be extracted and solvents therefor, for the recovery of the values contained therein, which consists in settling and thickening the material and separating therefrom liquid containing values in solution for after treatment, then withdrawing the thickened material and subjecting the same to agitation and circulation for the purpose of dissolving values contained therein, then "withdrawing the material under treatment and subjecting m at it to agitation while displacing and replacing the liquid of the material under treatment with an active barren solvent or one carrying less values than the liquid of the material under treatment, disposing of the separated pregnant'solution for after treatment, then withdrawing the material treated and subjecting it to agitation while displacing and replacing the liquid of the material under treatment with water or a liquid carryingless value than the liquid of the material under treatment at this stage of the process, separating thereby a valuable liquid and a tailings pulp for final disposal.

2. The continuous method for the described purpose of extracting values from slimes by means of solvents, which consists in settling and thickening the material received for treatment, then introducing under agitation a solvent for the purpose of displacing and replacing liquid received with the slimes, removing the displaced and replaced liquid, then agitating the material in mixture with the solvent for the purpose of dissolving values from the said material, then adding a barren solvent or a solvent I carryin less values (in solution) than the liquid of the material under treatment, and agitating the same with material being treated for displacing and replacing solu- 7 tion with the solvent, and for dissolving residual values, Withdrawing the recovered solution for subsequent treatment, then introducing water under agitation for replacing solution existent in the material being treated for the separation of a liquid carrying chemical and recovered values in solution and of a tailings pulp for removal from the process.

8. The continuous method of treating ore slimes forv the recovery of values therefrom, said method including treating the material in successive stages, all under agitation, each stage consisting in delivering the material for treatment in a stream into a receiving vessel and causing a gradual thickening and settling of the solids contained therein, introducing into the material a liquid for re placement purposes, and collecting the clear liquid at the surface, the thickened material collected from one stage being supplied as feed in the succeeding stage, and fresh replacing barren liquid being used at each stage of the treatment.

4:. The continuous method of treating ore slimes for the recovery of values therefrom including treating the material in successive stages, each stage consisting in delivering the material for treatment in a stream into a receiving vessel and causing a gradual thickening and settling of the solids contained therein, introducing into the material the surface, the thickened material collected from one stage being supplied as feed in the succeeding stage and fresh replacing barren liquid being used at each stage of the treatment.

5. The continuous method of extracting values from slimes including subjecting the material in a vessel to circulation by withdrawing material'from the upper part of the body ofmaterial and returning the same to the bottom part thereof for dissolving values contained therein, then Withdrawing the material under treatment into a receiving vessel and subjecting the same therein at a lower part thereof to gentle agitation to form zones of separation including a lower thickened zone, during such agitation introducing into the thickened zone replacing liquid, and. Collecting the clear pregnant liquid at the surface.-

6. The continuous method of treating slimes, containing values to be extracted and solvents therefor, for the recovery of the values contained therein, which consists in settling and thickening the material and separating therefrom liquid containing values in solution for after treatment, then withdrawing the thickened material and subjecting the same to gentle stirring and circulation for the purpose of dissolving values contained therein, then withdrawing the material under treatment and vsubjecting it to gentle stirring while displacing and replacing the liquid of the material under treatment with an active barren solvent or one carrying less values than the liquid of the material under treatment, collecting the separated pregnant solution for after treatment, then withdrawing the material treated and subjecting it to gentle stirring while displacing and replacing the liquid of the material under treatment With Water or a liquid carrying less value than the liquid of the material under treatment at this stage of the process, separating thereby a valuable liquid and a tailings pulp for final disposal.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

LAMARTINE o. TRENT;

Witnesses HARRY G. To'r'rnn, D. B. RICHARDS. 

